Jamaica is at its best from mid-December to mid-April, when there is less rainfall and the heat is tempered by cooling trade winds. June through November is hurricane season, with the threat reaching its peak in September. The summer months can get uncomfortably hot.

Citizens of the European Union, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Israel have no visa requirements for a stay of less than three or six months depending on the country of origin. All visitors need a valid passport and an onward ticket. Citizens of other countries require a visa, which can often be obtained on arrival in Jamaica with production of a valid onward ticket.

Besides personal belongings, tourists are allowed to carry up to 2 liters (67 fl.oz) of alcohol and two cigarette cartons to most Caribbean isles. Certain drugs require a prescription. Local and Caribbean customs are on guard for drug trafficking.

US Customs allows $800 worth of goods duty-free, including 1 liter (33 fl.oz) of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, and 100 non-Cuban cigars, plus an unlimited amount of original art. The UK permits £340 worth of goods, plus 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, plus 4 liters (144 fl.oz) of wine, and 1 liter (36 fl.oz) of spirits.

Avoid buying items made from endangered species such as tortoise shell, black coral, or reptile skin. These are covered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and anyone in possession can be fined.

Jamaica Tourist Board  have offices in Montego Bay, Port Antonio, and Kingston, as well as booths at cruise ship ports and at the airports. Their website also provides detailed information.

Jamaica is generally safe health-wise. Water is filtered and chlorinated at most places. Visitors may bring their own prescription medicines. No vaccinations are required to enter the island unless visitors have been to an infected area.

The island is not altogether crime-free and there are incidents of drug-related violence especially in Kingston. It is best to avoid the town during any tension. Keep to the main streets and avoid lonely areas. Do not walk alone late at night in the cities or along beaches. Women travelers can expect to receive very graphic and forward comments. These tend to be directed at all women in Jamaica though such attention is generally harmless. It is best to brush off comments with humor.

Visitors are advised to avoid carrying and using drugs even if easily available. The penalties for possession are severe.

The local currency is the Jamaican dollar (J$), with notes available in the denomination of J$1,000, J$500, J$100, J$50, and J$20. Bureaux de change are widespread in the resorts, generally offering better rates than the banks. There are ATMs at all banks and also scattered around the big resorts; in the latter, some dispense US dollars rather than local currency.

Card phones proliferate throughout the island, but the popularity of cell phones has made most of them obsolete. Supermarkets and small stores sell calling cards and cheap-rate international calling cards that can be used from any landline connections. Tri-band mobiles function in Jamaica. Local pay-as-you-go SIM cards are available all over Jamaica.

In terms of public transport, with the exception of Kingston, where city buses are government-run and quite efficient, all buses (usually minibuses) are owned and run by private individuals. Routes are painted on the front or the side of the bus. Knutsford Express offers a regular shuttle bus service from Kingston to Montego Bay and Ocho Rios.

Route taxis running set routes are great for short trips. Taxis are freely available in all the resorts; the national association of drivers is JUTA .

Renting a car is the easiest way to get around, and there are rental outlets in all the resorts. AVIS  and Island Car Rental  are the major players.

Jamaica’s tour companies range from one-man shows to huge outfits with fleets of buses that ferry visitors between the island’s most popular attractions. There are plenty of outfits in the middle of these two extremes. Some of the renowned ones are Barrett Adventures , Our Story , Sun Venture , Treasure Tours , and Glamour Tours .

Most tourist centers in Jamaica have craft markets selling souvenirs ranging from wood carvings to jewelry, straw goods and sculptures. Haggling in these markets is common unlike in stores. Jamaicans start all exchanges with a polite greeting, so it is best to greet people before asking for goods in shops. There are specialist shops that sell indigenous art, rum, cigars, and Jamaican flags. Rasta fans can also buy T-shirts, bandanas, reggae music, and red-gold-green tassels for cars in most markets. It is well worth picking up the jerk sauce and guava jelly that are available in any supermarket. Blue Mountain coffee, sold all over the island, also makes a good souvenir. On the north coast, there may be products made from coral and tortoiseshell. These are illegal as they are made from the endangered hawksbill turtle.

Most shops are open between Monday and Friday from around 8am to 5:30pm, and on Saturday from 8am to 5pm. Supermarkets stay open very late, even on Sunday.

Jamaica’s official language is English, but everyone also speaks the patios version, heavily accented and sprinkled with local slang.

The electric current is 110 volt but some hotels may have 220 volt, 60 cycles. Plug sockets usually take two flat prongs.

Jamaica runs on Eastern Standard Time, and is 5 hours behind GMT. It does not observe daylight savings.

To get married in Jamaica, the couple must have been on the island for at least 24 hours (not including weekends) before they can apply for a marriage license. They will need their passports, birth certificates with their father’s name, Decree Absolute or death certificate if divorced or widowed, and proof of any name change. There are many companies, such as White Sand Weddings , who can take care of all the formalities.